Lu Shen wasn't surprised. He knew what had happened to that female reporter. Although he had no hand in the accusations his family and the Nians had thrown at her, he didn't exactly prevent it either.
Why should he? If that reporter hadn't made it seem as if he and Nian Zhen were having a midnight tryst like an illicit couple, Xiao Yin wouldn't have broken the engagement with him.
Hui Yin expected Lu Shen's lack of reaction. Such a big scandal had happened that ruined his reputation—of course he would have done all he could to investigate it.
"Luo Lan is my friend, and your family is trying to pin down the blame on her. Did you know about this?"
"Yes." Lu Shen's voice was calm, his eyes steady on hers. "I know about it."
Hui Yin felt anger rise up in her chest. As expected! He and Nian Zhen must have been humiliated at the hateful comments the public had thrown at them, so they decided to redirect their rage at Luo Lan!
She slowly dug her nails into her palm.
"Lu Shen, I'm going to say something, and I want you to listen."
A faint bitterness crept into Hui Yin's face, but she held her voice steady.
"When I saved you, you promised to marry me during the time you lost your memories, do you remember?"
"But I want you to retract that promise. You don't have to marry me. And I won't marry you. In return, I want you to promise me something else."
"I want you and your family to take back the crimes that you had accused Luo Lan of. I want you to stop the Nian family from suing her. And I want you..."
This time, Hui Yin couldn't help it. Her voice cracked. A great pang gripped her heart, but she forced herself to say it.
"I want you to stay away from me."
Lu Shen's expression sank.
With each word she said, she had steadily pushed him further and further away until a great divide separated them. She won't marry him? She wanted him to retract his promise? She wanted him to stay away from her?
Lu Shen's eyes darkened and his hands tightly gripped the armrests of the chair he was sitting on. He didn't know his voice had gotten hoarse until he asked her, "What did you say?"
Startled, Hui Yin raised her eyes. Unknowingly, she had bowed her head to avoid looking at him. Her mouth was already open to answer him, but when she saw his expression, words suddenly failed to come out of her lips.
Why was he looking at her like that? If she didn't know any better, she would have mistaken the look in his eyes as pain.
"I..." Hui Yin hesitated, then plunged on, "I want you to stay away from me."
All hope of a peaceful reconciliation was ripped to shreds in his heart. She did not want to come back to him, she did not want to marry him. Xiao Yin...had truly hated him.
Why, why, why!
He did not understand. Where did this extreme loathing of hers come from? What did he do!
His hand reached out and captured her chin, forcing her to look at him. Hui Yin wanted to retreat, but his arm was strong as steel, not budging an inch.
"Xiao Yin, I dare you to say that again!"
His words were ferocious, the intensity in his eyes burning with vehemence. Hui Yin felt slightly scared by his outburst. But she hardened her heart and repeated once again, "I want you to stay—"
He did not let her finish. He could not bear to hear those harsh words again.
Lu Shen leaned over the table and kissed her.